Car-coupling



(Model.

T. ANDRESS.

GAR COUPLING.

Patent edApr. 19, 1887.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ANDRESS, or 'riTTsvILLn, WISCONSIN.

7CAR-COUPLING. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,343, datedApril 19,1887.

Application filed November 4, 1886. Serial No. 218,019. (Modem To aZZwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS ANDRESS, a citizen of the United States ofNorth America,

residing at Pittsville, in the county of Wood to similar partsthroughout the several views.

My invention relates to a new method of coupling cars in which aproperly-balanced coupling-link, in the shape of a hook working inavertical slot in the bumper or drawhead, acts as a self-coupler; andthe objects of my improvement are, first, to provide a coupling for carswhich will do away with the dangerous practice of brakemen stepping inbetween the cars in coupling or uncoupling the same; second, to savetime in coupling or uncoupling cars; third, to guard against danger, torunning trains byv being able to uncouple cars while in motion and stopthem by means of the brakes, and, fourth, the ability to preventcoupling of cars when desired, although, at the same time, my deviceshall be aself-coupler.

The coupling-hook 1 is, by means of the bolt 5, secured in its place invertical slot 22 of drawhead 21, and is so balanced and proportionedthat, when it is in proper position coupled, the weight of the hook endholds it down on the pin 16 in the opposite draw-head, 23, and keeps thecars coupled together; but by aid of the rod 2, which is fastened to thecoupling-hook 1 inthe groove 9 by means of bolt 3, the coupling-hook 1can be raised, as shown in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to couple two cars together, the arm 20 on draw-head23 will strike the lower end of the coupling-hook 1 at a and throw thecoupling-hook 1 into its proper position as a coupler. The coupling-hook1 is so constructed that, hanging ina horizontal position, it willeffect a coupling with another carby the hook at b slipping over the pin16 in drawhead 23 and retain its hold on said pin. At 8 8 a bolt isinserted into draw-head 21 and through slot 22 to regulate the positionof coupling-hook 1 by raising or lowering the point and hook on same.

6 is a lever fastened to the side of the drawhead 21 by means of bolt 7,and one end of it fits into groove in the head of bolt 5 to keep saidbolt 5 from slipping out of its position, and by raising said lever 6the bolt 5 can easily be put in or' withdrawn, as desired. The crease orgroove 9 in top of conplinghook, into which the rod 2 is inserted, islong and deep enough to permit of the coupling-hook 1 being raised orlowered at will. Y

14, on draw-head 23, is a spring fastened to draw-head by bolt 15, andin said spring 14 is a slot, 19, in which is inserted the flattened headof pin or bolt 16, in the outer end of which is secured an iron pin, 18,to keep the fiat head of bolt 16 from slipping out of slot 19 in spring14. This spring 14 when in its regular position lies flat against theside of draw-head 23, or is let into it the depth of the thickness ofthe spring, and holds the pin or bolt 16 in its position throughdraw-head 23 and through the vertical slot therein; but by means of therod 10, on which is secured the shank 13, the spring14 can be drawn out,and with it the pin or bolt 16, which would at once uncouple two cars.The rod 10 is supplied at 12 with a wheel and at 11 with an ordinarypawl and ratchet.

By means of the hook or link 25 (shown in Fig. 4) my coupling device canbe used in connection with the ordinary couplers now in use. It consistsof a double link, the ends of which are in planes at right angles toeach other, so that by placing one of the ends of the link or hook inthe vertical slot in bumper 23, and passing the pin 16 through it, theother end of the link is in a horizontal plane, thereby adapted to becoupled to a draw-head of the ordinary construction.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the operation and advantages of my improvedcoupler will be readily understood. be seen that by the employment ofthe spring or keeper 14, uncoupling of cars can be easily effectedwithout the necessity of bringing the cars close together for thepurpose of releasing the book from engagement with the transverse Itwill bolt, such bolts ordinarily being secured rigidly in the draw-head.

By this arrangement I am enabled not only i to attain as effectivecoupling as in other devices of this character, but at the same time Iam also, as stated, enabled to regulate uncoupling without theadditional labor of bringing the cars closer together for the purpose ofetfecting this result. I would also call particu lar attention to thearrangement of the transverse bolts 8 Sin draw-head 21, whereby I canregulate the height of the coupling-hook when in its horizontal positionto facilitate coupling with ears upon which the draw-heads are either ona higher or lower plane.

By providing the spring 14 with an clongated or longitudinal slot, 19,the strain on the transverse bolt 16 is greatly relieved in coupling thecars, the bolt being so constructed as to yield to the pressure exertedby the coup ling-hook when the two cars are brought together, andbeingthus displaced from its original position, and being forced inward,the greatest strain is upon the ends of the drawhead.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States 1. The combination of twolongitudinallyslotted drawhea-ds, a hook pivotally secured 'in oneot'said draw-heads, a spring secured to the side of the oppositedraw-head, a bolt secured in the free end of said spring, and a verticalrod provided with shank on its lower end and rigidly-secured wheel onits upper end.

2. The combination of two longitudinallyslotted draw'heads, a hookpivotally secured in one of said draw-heads, a spring secured to theside of the opposite draw-head and having its free end provided with anelongated slot, a bolt suitably secured in said slot, and a vertical rodprovided with a shank on its lower end and rigidly-secured wheel on itsupper end.

2. The combination of two longitudinallyslotted draw-heads, a hookpivotally secured in one of said draw-heads, a removable bolt havinggrooved head, a lever having its free end fitting in the 'groove in thehead of said bolt, a spring secured to the side of the oppositedraw-head, a bolt secured in the free end of said spring, and a verticalrod having its lower end provided with a shank and its upper end with arigidlysecured wheel.

4. The combination of two longitudinallyslotted draw-heads, a hookpivotally secured in one of said draw-heads and having extended lowerportion, a bolt, a spring secured to the side of the opposite draw-head,a bolt secured in the free end of said spring, and a vertical rod havingits lower end provided with a shank and its upper end with arigidlysecured wheel.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination of a vertically-slotted draw-head,a transverse bolt, and alink havingits ends in planes at right angles toeach other, one end being adapted to be secured in said vertical slotand the other end adapted to be secured in an ordinary d rawhead.

THOMAS ANDRESS.

\Vitnesses:

P. N. CHRISTENSEN, J. Cnnrs'rnxsnx.

